Means for heating railway rails and the like



Jim 27, 1925.

1.. s. WELLS MEANS FOR HEATING RAILWAY RAILS AND THE LIKE Filed March22, 1922 INVENTOR Ila/ en J iflk JBY ATTORNEY Q Q I Patented Jan. 27,1925.

UNITED STATES 1,524,223 PATENT OFFICE.

1 LOREN S. WELLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR HEATING RAILWAY RAILS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 22, 1922. Serial No. 545,635.

. York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forHeating Railway Rails and the like, of which the following is aspecification.

On electrified railroads the power for traction purposes is delivered tocars or trains by means of an electrical conductor connnonly calledthird rail, channel rail and other forms which parallel the track rails.The power to operate cars or trains is collected from such conductors bymeans of shoes attached to the cars which come in contact with thestationary electrical conductor referred to. During time of sleet orsnow storms a coating of ice frequently forms on the conductor railswhich insulates them electrically from the shoe or other form ofcollector on the car, thereby preventing, temporarily at least, thecollection of power for the operation of the car and seriouslyinterfering with the train schedule, the shoe being electricallyconnected with the motor equipments on the cars, etc.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means inconjunction with railway rails or conductors, and particularly inassociation with the third rail or other rails that conduct the currentfor the motors of the railway cars, to prevent formation or accumulationof sleet, snow, or ice on such rail or conductor, which heating meanswil not interfere with the operation of the railroad trains, and willnot be liable to be injured or to permit leakage of elec tric current.

My invention comprises novel details of improvement that will be morefully hereinafter set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming parthereof, wherein-- Figure' 1 is a side view illustrating my improvementin connection with a so-called third rail of a railway track;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view adjacent to the joint between tworails;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3, 3, in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section illustrating connecting meansbetween conducors;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating supporting means forconductors along the rail;

Fig. 6 is a partly sectional detail view illustrating the conductorprotector;

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 illustrates protecting boards along the rail.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

The numeral 1 indicates a part to be heated, such as a railway rail, ora conductor or power line for an electrically propelled railway, such ascommonly called third rail, channel rail, or other form. of conductorwhich parallel the railroad track rails, and from which power to operatethe trains is collected by means of shoes on a. car which come incontact with such electrical conductor. At 2 is an electrical conductorto supply heat to the rail or conductor 1, the conductor 2 being shownlocated along one side of rail or conductor 1 and maintained in thermalrelation thereto, so that the heat from the resistance conductor 2 willradiate to rail or conductor 1 to heat the latter. Conductor 2 is shown,in part, covered by refractory heat conducting means, such as insulatingsleeves or tubes 3, which may be in the nature of porcelain, mica,asbestos, or other insulating tubes, strung along conductor 2,preferably in relatively close relation. The resistance conductor withits insulating heat conducting material thereon is shown enclosed withina moulding 4.

shown in the form of a channel piece, which may be of metal, having oneside open, the open side thereof being located against the web 1ofconductor or rail .1, so that the heat from conductor 2 will readilyradiate to rail 1. The moulding 4 is preferably provided with aninsulating lining 4*, shown open on the side opposite rail 1. Themoulding 4 extends along the rail to protect conductor 2 and is shownretained in place by means of spaced blocks which. may be of wood,having lateral recesses 6 receiving the moulding 4. The blocks 5 areretained against the conductor rail 1 by means of clips 7. The'clips 7are shown in the form of metal strips having a main portion 7 adapted tobear against the bottom of the rail and at one end having a reversehook-like portion at 7 to engage the adjacent edge of the bottom web ofthe rail, or a block 5' as in Fig. 8. the opposite end of clip; T-havinga prong orprojection l' adapted to fit over and agai-nst the adjacentlower portion of block 5. Bypret erence the block has an1111g1-1l211=-b358 por-- receive the prong 7, whereby the 10 blodk isretained"--a'gainst the" rail and lateral shitti'i-ig ofthe blockal-oirg'the rail is prevented. After the block 5 hasb'eenlocat- "edagainst the rail the ;*end 7of clip :7 is to be hooked against the railand the pron'g "T" bent into-the recess 5 ortheend"? is'engagedwithblock '5 in case that is used as in Fig. 8. The blocks 5 are to bese'cured along tl1e=rail in any desired spaced relat-ien -tomaintain'the moulding l and "the "contained conduct-or 2in properposition be lowthe tread'ot 1'ai l"1.' At the junction between'two rails1, such asadjacent to'the lish' plate '8; the conductor and moulding 4may extend, or an insulated conductor 9 may be iprovide d'to spanthefishplate the ends ofithe con'ductor' 9 being electrically andmechanicallyconnected to the adjacent en'ds otresistance conductors-2that extend along the-corresponclnig "rails 1. As a con- 3*venient}meansfor su'ch connection a connec-to'r' 10 isysho'wncomprising a well known fomnvofunetal tubingdiai ing screws 11 to seeurethe inserted "ends of the conductors Qifiand 9; (Figu l'). Suchconnector '10 is preferably "enclosed within an insulator 12,

which may be o'i por'celain or other suit able kinsu'lating? material.The inner end otT'insu'l ator 12 Eand' tlieWa-djaoent end of moulding-E4are shownabutting and en- 40 cle'sed Wi thin"the recess 6 of thecorresponding block :1 5, whereby said parts are united and maintainedagainst rail 1 (see e-2).-

By fproyi'ding :the resistance conductor 2 with insulators S "strung:alongthe conductor, I-a1n:=enabl'ed to :use l'L tory insulating'i'n'ea'ns through which heat from there sistance conductor nag "radiatewithout infjuq to the-insulation: due to vibration or bending-lot railsor we ather conditions,-since my "improvementsr'not "only maybeused toheat condimtori rai'ls, sue'h asthird rails, but mayalsoflbe auplied'along "tl1'e"-traok rails;"particularly at the pla es Where switches,frogs, and the dike arewlocate d, to

prevent the {ICCl'illltlltLtiOnQf*SDUW, ice-and "sleet thereon. f Tolimit I the Fmovement of theinsulators 3 and 12'Z'due toith'eiriexpan-'si'onit'rom heat Within moulding at I provide stops 15".{1t'"(11l601bothends' ot'a moulding -to 1 abut the i endm'ost insulator; the stopsbeingvlapertured at 15 for the conductor "2, (Figs; seam Theflexibleinsulated'condu ctors .9,' which; spani the ltish 1 plates, are55 not requirfe'd asheatingwlements sinee when and: the block isprovided with a recess 5- at its lower portlon' on the-exterior to"ation ot -heat therefrom and drive' 'th'e heat "third-rails,channelrails and rails, or track 'r'alls as Well as other forms ofelecresistance: conductor extending (along the adjaeent to' the-rail,andmoans to retain the resistance 'eo'nductors; insulators encflofs-Fig. '85 The bloc-ksbf on the sides of the rails opposite the "blocks 5afi'ord means to secure hoards along the rails below theirtread-ssimilarly to thatdescribed re- "spectingboar'ds 1st; Said boardsbeing outside of the concluctorsjre'si'stf-outivardraditoward the rail.7

By the term rail as used by ine I mean to include railway rails whether-'used as conductors of electricity, such'as so-called trioalcon'c'luctors-that it is desired to maintain, at least temporarily, ata' temperature above atmosphere;

Having now described -my invention,

1. Means "for -heatingrails comprising a resistance conductor extendlng7 along the rail, -spaoed bloeksretaining theresistance outside U1 saidcenductor to resist radiation of heat therefrom and drive the heat to--Ward the'rail. c

Means tor fheatin'g rails comprising a 1 rail, a "moulding-enclosing"the resistance conductor-mail having oi'ie side free to-pcranitradiation" of heat "therethrough t0 the raiL spaced blocks retaining:the moulding; 1

the bleeks. V p p 3; Means for heating rails COllll'H'lSlllQ a"resistance conductor extending "along the rail, heat conductingelectrical"insulators 5r enclosing? the "resistance conductor,

the rail, and means to retain themoulding alongrail. I i V "4. Means-forheating rails comprising resistance conductors extending along-therails; an insulated"conductor attached to ing the junction 'between saidconductors, I blocks retamm'g SfllCl insulators, and means to retain the-blociks adqae'entto the rail.

' Mea'nS for heating:railscomprisingresistan'ce conductors extendingalong the rails,"'1nsulated conductor-s attached to th'e resistanceconductors, insulators enclosing 1 the junction between said conductors,moulding enclosing the resistance conductors, blocks retaining theadjacent portions of said insulators and said moulding, and means toretain the block adjacent to the rail.

6. The combination of a rail, a resistance conductor at a side of therail, a molding having one side open opposing the rail and enclosingsaid conductor, blocks spaced along the rail having recesses facing therail and receiving said conductor and molding, and means to retain saidblocks against the rail.

7 The combination of a rail, a resistance conductor at a side of therail, blocks spaced along the rail having recesses receiving saidconductor, and clips having hook-like portions fitted against the railand having prongs retaining the blocks against the rail.

8. The combination of a rail, a resistance conductor at a side of therail, blocks spaced along the rail having recesses receiving saidconductor, and clips having hooklike portions fitted against the base ofthe rail and having prongs retaining the blocks against the rail, saidblocks having recesses reeeiving said prongs for retaining the blocksfrom displacement along the rail.

9. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extendingalong the rail, an insulated conductor attached to the resistanceconductor, an insulator enclosing the junction between said conductors.a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor, said moulding having oneside open opposing the rail to permit the passage of. heat from theresistance conductor to the rail, a block having a recess receivingadjacent portions of the insulator and moulding, and means to retain theblock adjacent to the rail.

10. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extendingalong the rail, an insulated conductor attached to the resistanceconductor, an insulator enclosing the junction between said conductors,a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor. said moulding having oneside open opposing the rail to permit the passage of heat from theresistance conductor to the rail a block having a recess receivingadjacent portions of the insulator and moulding. and means to retain theblock adjacent to the rail, said resistance conductor having electricalinsulating heat conducting sleeves thereon enclosed in said moulding.

11. The combination of rails, fish plates connecting them, resistanceconductors along the rails, insulated conductors along the fish platesconnected to the resistance conductors, moulding enclosing theresistance conductors, insulators enclosing the junction between theconductors, blocks retaining the moulding and insulators adjacent to therails, and means retaining the blocks adjacent to rails.

12. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extendingalong the rail, separate heat conducting electrical insulators upon theresistance conductor, a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor andthe insulators, and stops at the ends of the moulding to limit movementof the insulators along the conductor.

13. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extendingalong the rail, separate heat conducting electrical insulators upon theresistance conductor, a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor andthe insulators, and stops at the ends of the moulding to limit movementof the in sulators along the conductor, said stops having openingsreceiving the resistance conductor.

14. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extendingalong the rail and having a heat conducting covering, a mouldingextending along the rail enclosing said conductor and having one sideopposing the rail free for radiation of heat from the conductor to therail,and a lining, of insulating material within the moulding outside ofthe conductor and open on the side toward the rail.

15. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extendingalong the rail and having a heat conducting covering, a mouldingextending along the rail enclosing said conductor and having one sideopposing the rail open for radiation of heat to the rail, an insulatinglining within the moulding above, below and outside of said conductorand open on the side toward the rail.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of NewYork, this 20th day of March, A. D. 1922.

LOREN S. WELLS.

